All of us have moments when our personalities get us in hot water. We act impulsively, we’re too blunt, we can’t concentrate, or we talk too much. Most of us can shrug off such moments as part of a bad day, or we learn how to handle those situations better for the future. But for some of us, embarrassing or awkward personality traits are part of our everyday lives. However, such traits could actually be part of a treatable syndrome…

Many of us have blind spots about our foibles and frailties. If we’re aware of our quirks, we tend to compensate so that they won’t be conspicuous or socially compromising. These adaptive behaviors often become normal and reflexive. In fact, we may not be aware of it after awhile. But some of the quirks we mask may be signs of a more serious disorder that is impacting our lives and relationships.

Indicators of some disorders, such as autism, bipolar disorder and depression, have become easier to identify as they’ve received more attention from the science community and the media. However, even these may go undiagnosed in adults. So how can we recognize potentially disabling disorders?

If you have children, their own difficulties may provide surprising clues to your own. Psychiatric and developmental disorders tend to run in families. For example, the offspring of parents with bipolar disorder are about eight times more likely to develop a mood disorder. Children of parents with depression are three times more likely to develop a similar problem.

Because children are now more likely to be diagnosed with a psychiatric or behavioral problem than they were 20 years ago, parents must confront their own behavior and family history more than they did in the past.

And yet, many behavioral problems still go unrecognized in both adults and children. Here are three “hidden” disorders that often go misdiagnosed.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

A colleague of mine recently commented on how distractible his son was. The boy found it difficult to concentrate on tasks but was still able to focus enough to get into an Ivy League school. My friend remarked that he realized that he had the same difficulties as his son. Even as an adult, he finds himself easily distracted, bouncing from one idea to another. “Classic ADHD,“ he said of himself. “It was always there, but it took seeing it in my son to make me acknowledge that I have it, too.”

Parents who come to recognize and acknowledge that their children’s problems may reflect their own behavioral challenges may benefit from therapy and/or medication. ADHD is a lifelong neurological affliction. One-half to two-thirds of childhood ADHD continues into adulthood, when it may become more subtle but remain disruptive. Afflicted adults may encounter significant problems with work, family and social relationships as a result.

Adult ADHD tends to present itself differently than the childhood version. Adults with the disorder may be extremely driven and restless. Constantly on the go, they may try to calm themselves by staying busy all the time. They may seem impulsive and appear to lack self-control, often blurting out comments or interrupting others.

A common finding is the inability to structure their lives and plan ahead. They form a start-and-stop work pattern, leaving many serial tasks unfinished. The buildup of work failures and\or social estrangement creates a bumpy and problematic emotional life, as well.

Unfortunately, many adults with ADHD tend to self-medicate with alcohol or stimulant drugs such as caffeine and cocaine. Perhaps as a result, ADHD adults are more likely to suffer from mood disorders, lose their jobs and get divorced.

However, because of increased media attention on adult ADHD, the syndrome is now diagnosed more frequently and can be successfully treated with certain stimulant medications.

Asperger’s Syndrome (AS)

Another “hidden” disorder, increasingly recognized in children and adults, is Asperger’s Syndrome (AS), a form of autism. People with AS typically have above-average intelligence but also have trouble making eye contact, lack empathy and suffer from poor social skills that may isolate them from their peers.

They often fail to notice social cues and may respond to people inappropriately by being too blunt or tactless in their comments. And they tend to be klutzes, often the last person picked by their peers to be on the team.

As with ADHD, many adults become aware of their AS through the diagnosis of their own children. Typically, by age 6, children with AS display behavior and interests that are restricted and repetitive.

They tend to stick to routines or rituals and may become unusually focused on details while missing the big picture. They may demonstrate repetitive motor behaviors such as flapping or wringing their hands. Sometimes they show more complex whole body movements that may be rhythmical and symmetrical.

Children with AS typically carry the syndrome into adulthood. Adults with AS may have more subtle difficulties, particularly in the areas of communication, social relationships and interests.

Their conversational styles are typically long-winded, lecture-like and delivered in a robotic fashion. There may be a disconnect between their words and their emotional expressions and body language. And they often have no idea how monotonous they may be and tend not to notice the body language of bored listeners.

Social relationships are typically one-sided, distant or absent. Adults with Asperger’s struggle with social relationships and often misunderstand or misinterpret social cues. Consequently, they may become isolated and lack friends. Their interests, which they often pursue alone, may be eccentric or narrowly focused.

AS tends to run in families and seems to stem more often from fathers. Although no gene has been identified, a higher incidence of behavioral symptoms among family members suggests a genetic link. A combination of psychotherapy and medications can help those with AS control their symptoms. And many adults with AS, such as Bill Gates and Albert Einstein, can function very well.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is another under-diagnosed anxiety disorder that affects adults. It’s characterized by obsessive, often distressing and intrusive thoughts.

In an attempt to quiet such thoughts, individuals develop compulsions or rituals. OCD is different from the routine tension and stress felt by most adults. Adults with OCD can’t seem to get away from certain persistent, intrusive and disruptive thoughts. The repetitive behaviors typically have no connection with the thought process, but they may provide some temporary relief.

OCD often leads to social impairment and inadequate job or school functioning. But the symptoms and distress of OCD can be addressed through psychotherapy and medications. Many OCD patients live relatively normal lives within a highly circumscribed set of circumstances, and they find ways to compensate or hide their distress from others.

How Well Can You Perform Self-Analysis?

Understanding why other people act the way they do is one thing, but can you turn the spotlight on yourself and ask why you behave a certain way? The analysis of self is difficult; it's far easier to observe and comment on others. Analysis of the self begins with a desire to learn. Are you ready? Take this quiz to discover just how good you are at reading into your own feelings.

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